Union Workers Rally for Pay Raises at Wilson Building

D.C. bus drivers gathered as the City Council debated a proposal to increase the mayor's annual salary.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Unions

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a monumental neoclassical column, evoking the institutional gravitas of municipal government and labor policy debates. — AFSCME Local 1959 union workers rallied at the Wilson Building on Tuesday, demanding wage increases as the D.C. Council debated a mayoral salary hike. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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AFSCME Local #1959 members rallied at the Wilson Building on October 28 to demand pay increases amid stagnant wages. The protest coincided with a D.C. Council hearing regarding a proposal to boost the mayor's annual salary from $250,000 to $290,000.

Why it matters

Union members are pushing for higher pay to keep pace with rising costs for basic goods after experiencing no cost of living raises for more than three years. The rally contrasts the proposed mayoral salary hike with the current pay scales of city employees.

D.C. school bus drivers currently earn between $26 and $35 per hour, compared to $45 per hour for drivers in neighboring Prince George's County. The District operates 317 daily school bus routes while removing 3-4 buses from service for repairs each day.

The players

AFSCME Local #1959

This labor organization represents nearly 900 city bus drivers and attendants in the District of Columbia.

D.C. Council

The municipal legislative body for the District of Columbia is responsible for considering mayoral salary adjustments.

The details

Union representatives organized the demonstration to highlight current staffing and compensation challenges for the 900 drivers and attendants they represent. These workers currently manage the daily transport of 3,000 disabled students across the District.

October 28, 2026: Union workers conducted a public rally at the Wilson Building.

Political Context

The rally follows a pattern established by the D.C. Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act, which governs public sector compensation and collective bargaining standards. Opposition figures often push back against executive salary increases during periods where the city faces significant budgetary demands from organized labor.

The potential pay adjustments for city leadership and transit staff could influence municipal tax allocations and future budget planning for District residents. Commuters and families relying on student transportation may see changes in service consistency based on the outcome of these labor negotiations.

The takeaway

Workers are highlighting a growing wage gap between municipal leadership and frontline transit employees. Residents should monitor upcoming council votes to see how budget priorities are allocated between executive compensation and essential public services.